Chapter 20: Brothers in Rivalry
1698 Words
The rare clarity atop the snowy mountain lasted only half a day. Once again, a blizzard swept across the peaks, the wind howling through the pine-covered ridges. Snow blinded the eye, and thick drifts bent tree branches low. Amid the white haze, a modest cabin emerged—weathered wood, a simple fence enclosing it, snow-frosted firs encircling it like sentinels, shielding it from the storm.
Inside, the hearth roared with fire. The crackle of burning logs filled the small room.
Creaaak— the door swung open.
Left Yánxī and Báilí stepped inside.
“Sit,” Yánxī said, shedding her thick cloak to reveal a light green dress beneath—cool-toned and clean, despite the snow.
Báilí took the seat nearest the fire. The warmth hit him immediately, softening the tension in his shoulders and his face. “How long do you plan to stay?”
Yánxī shut the door behind her, shaking off the last of the snow. “Until summer ends,” she said, then paused. “Though even when it ends... I may not be able to return.”
“I’ve heard... about your mother. It’s not just Qin Lán hunting you. The Emperor’s waiting—waiting for you to return so he can imprison you.”
Yánxī laughed, a cold sneer curling her lips. “He thinks he can imprison me?”
“Have you forgotten how your father was captured by the former emperor?” Báilí said quietly.
That made her pause.
No... With her mother’s power, Father should never have ended up in chains. And yet he had gone willingly—his loyalty to the Emperor outweighing even his love for his wife and child...
“You mean... the Emperor will force Yìzhī to give me up?”
“There’s a very real chance.” Báilí looked at her directly, the firelight dancing in his strange, beautiful eyes. “And if he doesn’t, the Emperor might come after him instead.”
“I know that.” Her voice dropped.
She sat at the edge of the bed, a sigh escaping her lips. There was a dimness in her gaze now. “It was my carelessness that let Lín Rán see through me. That’s how everything unraveled.”
“So—what will you do now?”
She looked up. “Didn’t you come here to help me?”
Báilí smiled. His foxlike features shimmered oddly in the firelight—otherworldly. Yes, they were demons... caught up in mortal strife.
“When I was in the palace, reading the omens, I divined the appearance of three imperial stars.”
“Three?” Yánxī blinked. Even though she wasn’t trained in augury, every child in Huágé knew—whenever a royal fate stirred, a golden star would appear in the sky.
Báilí nodded. “Your return was the disturbance that set them in motion. You are the key to Huágé’s unrest... and all three stars are destined to fall.”
Yánxī gave a bitter laugh. There was nothing to say.
“If you stay in Huágé,” Báilí warned, “you will die before your time. One star has already fallen. I can’t save the second. I came here to try and preserve the last.”
“Dying before my time, is it...” she murmured. “But what do those stars have to do with me?”
“The child in Qín Lán’s womb—she carried the first. It died because of me. The one in Consort Chēn’s belly is the second—it will die because of Qín Lán. And the last... is in your womb.”
“Mine?”
“You’ve forgotten. Lín Yìzhī and Lín Rán are brothers—both of royal blood. I only want to save the last remaining heir... as a way to atone.”
Yánxī’s hand moved unconsciously to her abdomen. A flicker of unease crossed her face. “You mean... my child is in danger?”
Báilí’s expression darkened. He nodded. “There will be a calamity during the spring equinox next year. I fear—”
“No!” Yánxī shot to her feet, pale as the snow outside. “I’ll bring this child into the world safely. I will.”
Báilí gazed at her in silence. After a long moment, he let out a sigh. “The omen says: three stars shall fall. Huágé’s fate will hang in the balance. I only hope... that you’ll stay here, give birth in peace, and then return.”
Yánxī sank back onto the bed. “If only Lín Rán and Qín Lán would stop chasing us to the ends of the earth...”
Báilí suddenly stood, eyes shut tight in concentration. After a breathless pause, he opened them again.
“Consort Chēn... is dead.”
Yánxī froze.
It was too late...?
Back in the palace, chaos reigned. Consort Chēn lay twisted beneath the table, limbs splayed, hair disheveled. Her eyes stared blankly ahead, lips stained dark red—clearly poisoned.
The Empress had been assaulted. Consort Chēn was now dead. Panic swept through every corridor of the palace.
“Your Majesty!” cried her uncle, an official of high rank. “Consort Chēn suffered unspeakable pain before her death. Such cruelty must be punished—Your Majesty must seek justice!”
Lín Rán met the minister in his study. Thoughts churned in his mind.
It had all started with the disappearance of Left Yánxī. Then Qín Lián’s death—he had sent assassins, yes, but Prince Yìzhī’s guards had intervened. Qín Lián’s body turned up the next day. Qín Lán was then attacked—her maid claimed it was Yánxī’s doing. Now Consort Chēn was poisoned... and a palace maid had seen the Empress’s own attendant, Píng’er, deliver food to her.
Later, Píng’er’s body had turned up in the palace garden.
It was confirmed: she was from the Prince’s household.
And Left Yánxī? Still missing.
Everything pointed back to Prince Yìzhī.
Everything pointed back to Left Yánxī.
Lín Rán turned to the official. “Though the one who administered the poison is dead, I will still uncover the mastermind. You need not worry.”
The minister bowed and withdrew.
Left Yánxī. Are you avenging yourself on Huágé? Or... are you being used?
Not that it mattered anymore.
Lín Rán’s lips curled into a slow smile.
Because now, he had all the reason he needed to imprison her.
“Summon Prince Yìzhī to the palace.”
The news of Consort Chēn’s death had spread like wildfire. Lín Yìzhī understood—the Emperor’s summons was no mere formality.
Tú Lóng, his trusted aide, could no longer read the Prince’s thoughts.
Would he still value their brotherhood?
Yìzhī’s expression was unreadable as he strode forward. Tú Lóng followed.
“Your Highness,” he asked, “do you truly believe Píng’er poisoned the consort under Lady Yánxī’s orders?”
Yìzhī halted abruptly. He turned sharply, anger flashing.
“What do you think?”
Tú Lóng froze. He had never seen the Prince lose control like this.
His voice was low, shaking with fury. “You want me to believe what, exactly? That I should still trust them—after all this? My own brother would do this to me!”
He hated it—hated that he couldn’t simply go and bring Yánxī home. Hated the treachery, the barriers, the cold mountains and colder politics.
“Your Highness...” Tú Lóng lowered his head, ashamed. He had overstepped. His concern for Lady Yánxī had blinded him to his lord’s impossible burden.
Yìzhī took a long breath and steadied himself.
“You’re not coming to the palace with me. Go outside the city—mobilize my troops. General Gāo won’t stop you.”
“My lord... you...” Tú Lóng stared at him. Troops? In the capital?
Only the Emperor’s own guards were allowed within the inner city. If the Prince was calling in soldiers...
Liǔ Yán approached. “Your Highness, the carriage is ready. The ministers have begun gathering at Minister Lǐ’s residence.”
Tú Lóng blinked. Ministers? What was the Prince planning?
But Yìzhī said nothing. He moved forward. Liǔ Yán followed. Tú Lóng remained rooted until—
“Tú Lóng. Do what you’re told.”
Mobilize the troops.
So—it was starting.
Yìzhī and the Emperor were finally going to fight.
Tú Lóng’s chest tightened. He had served Yìzhī for years. He knew the Prince—how he’d always respected, even loved, his elder brother.
And yet today...
Neither of them had wanted this. But it had become inevitable.
Yìzhī didn’t want to plunge the empire into chaos. But now... he needed force to ensure her safety.
Yánxī... you’ve been gone too long.
The carriage rolled toward the palace. Liǔ Yán and a cadre of guards rode beside it. Inside, Yìzhī sat, silent and grim.
If his brother still valued their bond, perhaps this could be resolved peacefully...
But why, then, this gnawing unease?
Píng’er was dead. But who had poisoned the consort? Who injured Qín Lán?
It wasn’t Yánxī. He refused to believe it.
The Emperor received him in the grand hall.
Only the two brothers were present.
“Yìzhī,” said Lín Rán from the throne, smiling faintly. “Do you remember when we used to sneak into this hall as children to skip our training?”
Yìzhī looked around, managing a faint smile. “I remember. The servants and maids would search everywhere for us—except here. They were too afraid to enter the main hall.”
“Time flies... who would’ve thought we’d sit here like this, as men?”
“Because you are now the Emperor, Brother. This place belongs to you.”
“Hmm... But between us, you’ve always been the stronger—more capable with sword and scroll alike. If it weren’t for seniority, you might be the one sitting here.”
“You flatter me. The peace we enjoy today is thanks to your wise rule.”
“If you were in my place... perhaps you’d have done better. Being a prince—must be a burden for you.”
Lín Rán’s smile deepened.
- Writer
